EPIPHANY HOME BLESSING CEREMONY
[For a longer prayer begin here]
we who know you by faith may wonder at your majesty, through
Christ, Our Lord.
All gather around the manger while the head of the family leads:
All: Amen.
Head: God’s peace be in this home,
All: And in all who live here.
All: Be enlightened and shine forth, O Jerusalem, for your light
is come, and upon you is risen the glory of the Lord, Jesus
Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
Antiphon:
H: The star burned like a flame, pointing the way to God, the
King of kings; the wise men saw the sign and brought their gifts
in homage to their great King.
Canticle of Mary, the Magnificat, Luke 1:26-55
All: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit
rejoices in God my Savior; for He has looked with favor on his
lowly servant. From this day all generations shall call me
blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is
His Name. He has mercy on those who fear Him in every
generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, He has
scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the
mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has
filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away
empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has
remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our
fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever. Amen.
All: The star burned like a flame, pointing the way to God, the
King of kings; the wise men saw the sign and brought their gifts
in homage to their great King.
H: Many shall come from Sheba.
All: Bearing gold and incense.
H: O Lord, hear my prayer.
All: And let my cry be heard.
H: Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star did on this
day reveal your Only Begotten Son to the Gentiles, grant that
H: Nations shall walk in your light, and kings in the brilliance of
your rising.
All: And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
BLESSING OF CHALK (Omit if chalk has been blessed already)
H: Bless, + O Lord God, this creation, chalk, and let it be a help
to mankind. Grant that those who will use it with faith in your
most holy name, and with it inscribe on the doors of their homes
the names of your saints, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, may
through their merits and intercession enjoy health in body and
protection of soul; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
[For a shorter prayer begin here]
HOUSE BLESSING (all gather at the front door of the house)
H: Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only
begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless
this house and all who inhabit it. May we be blessed with health,
goodness of heart, gentleness and the keeping of your law. Fill
us with the light of Christ, that our love for each other may go
out to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
All: Amen.
The head of the family and the three “kings” (other household
members) take turns with the blessed chalk and proceed to the
front door. The head of the household reads the corresponding
words as the kings inscribe their initials onto the lintel. (The
initials CMB also stand for Christus mansionem benedicat: May
Christ bless this house.)
Final inscription on lintel should read: 20 + C + M + B + 17
“The three wise men,
Caspar, [Caspar inscribes ‘C’ on lintel]
Melchior, [Melchior inscribes ‘M’]
and Balthasar [Balthasar inscribes ‘B’] followed the star of God’s
Son who became man two thousand…
[Head of household inscribes the ‘20’on left]
…seventeen years ago.
[Head of household inscribes ‘17’ on right]
“May Christ bless our dwelling, [Head places + after ‘20’]
and remain with us throughout the new year,
[place + after ‘C’] and grant that our comings and goings
[place + after ‘M’] will be in search of truth [place + after ‘B’]
H: Almighty God, incline your ear. May you bless us and all
who are gathered here. Send your holy angel who will defend
us and fill with grace all who live here.
All: Amen
Everyone sings: We Three Kings of Orient Are
V: We three Kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain following yonder star.
Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
V: Born a babe on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign.
Refrain
V: Frankincense to offer have I; Incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray’r and praising, all men raising, Worship him God most high.
Refrain
V: Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
Refrain
Glorious now, behold Him arise, King and God sacrifice!
Alleluia, Alleluia Earth to Heav’n replies.
Refrain
Home Blessing Epiphany 2017
20 + C + M + B + 17
Prayer Source: Original Text (JGM) by Jennifer Gregory Miller, © Copyright 2003-2